This is a TV print from the Mischief Makers series entitled "Rockabye Baby." Six of the
original inter-titles are included, and the picture quality is fair. The footage totals 12:27, with 12:21 of
it original.

technical details:

Production K-19.

Filmed February 16 to March 14, 1927. See the 'miscellaneous' section below for details.

Copyrighted May 18, 1927, by Pathé Exchange, Inc. Registration no. LU23973. Renewed January 10, 1955, with
registration no. R142074. This copyright is currently due to expire at the end of 2022.

Released on June 26, 1927. If Maltin & Bann's release date for "The Glorious Fourth" is correct, then
the two films were released on the same day, making them the 61st and 62nd in the series to be released. However, both
July 30th and 31st have also been listed as release dates for that film.

writing - Robert F. McGowan, Robert A.
McGowan, Hal Yates, Carl Harbaugh, Jean Yarbrough and Frank Butler may have been among the
gag writers.

the kids:

the gang

Joe Cobb as "Joe" aka "Joseph"

Lead role. He's the star of the film, a rich kid that wants a baby brother, so he buys
one.

Allen "Farina" Hoskins

Featured role. The nickname doesn't appear in this film. He's the one that finds a baby to sell
to Joe.

Jay R. Smith

Supporting role. He gets a bit of dialogue, but mainly in relation to his brother
Horatio.

Bobby "Bonedust" Young

Supporting role. The nickname doesn't appear in this film. Most of his activity is in relation to the
twins.

Jackie Condon

Supporting role. He's mostly along for the ride in this film, but he has a couple of
lines.

Elmer "Scooter" Lowry

Supporting role. He's given mostly ensemble work to do.

Jean Darling

Small part. She appears off and on, and isn't given much to do.

Jannie Hoskins

Small part. She appears off and on.

Davey Monahan

Bit part. He's the one additional boy in the gang during the baby assembly line sequence, but
he's given very little to do.

the babies

Bobby "Wheezer" Hutchins as "Horatio"

Supporting role. Maltin & Bann mistakenly give him the "Wheezer" moniker, while assigning
the "Horatio" character to Donnie Smith, who isn't in the film. In any event, he's given more attention
than virtually any of the other babies. This was Wheezer's debut in the series.

Mildred Kornman

Supporting role. She gets stuck on a rogue baby bouncer. There appears to be somebody doubling for her in
this scene. She appears to be Jackie's younger sister.

Richard and Robert Smith as "Coolidge" and "Tunney"

Supporting roles. These two are Bonedust's little brothers, and can be told apart with a pickle. A
later interview with the twins reveals that Richard played "Coolidge" and Robert played "Tunney," and
that the pickle routine actually reflected reality.

other babies

Supporting roles, small parts and bit parts. One of the babies was the younger sister of the Smith
twins.
(1.) "Nasturtium" aka "Joe, Jr." This is the black baby that Farina steals for
Joe.
(2.) Farina's baby brother, whose diaper starts smoking while he's on the drying machine.
(3.) The first baby stolen by Farina, which Joe runs off with.
(4.) The baby with the big nose that Farina tries to acquire.
(5.) There are three additional babies in this film, one of which is Scooter's younger sibling, and another is
Jean's younger sibling.

undetermined kids

A 1927 casting directory states that Johnny Aber appeared in this film, but he's clearly not
in the available print, which is apparently complete.

the animals:

Pal

Small part. Not listed by Maltin & Bann. He provides motor power for the rocking
machine.

dog 059

Small part. This is Joe's Pekingese.

cat 060

Bit part. This is the cat in the foreground licking up the melted ice cream. Previously seen in
"Tired Business Men" (no. 60).

other animals

Bit parts and extras.
(1.) Six other cats follow the trail of melted ice cream, some of which may have been previously seen.
(2.) A chicken can just barely be made out behind Hardy.

the adults:

Anita Garvin as Joe's nursemaid

Supporting role. She introduces Joe to the poor kids.

Oliver Hardy as the iceman

Supporting role. Maltin & Bann identify him as the nursemaid's boyfriend. He becomes very
embarassed when Joe asks the nursemaid for a baby brother.

Harry Earles as "Gus," one of Barr's midgets

Supporting role. He gets into a fight with Farina.

Ben Hall as the man in the glasses

Small part. He's the assistant to Joe's dad.

Silas D. Wilcox as one of the cops

Small part. This is the other cop standing behind Farina.

Ed Brandenberg as the shoeshine worker

Bit part. Maltin & Bann list him as a cop.

Lyle Tayo as one of the party guests

Bit part. She's sitting across the table from Joe's mom, and later lingers at the door when Joe
runs in with the black baby.

Symona Ferner Boniface as one of the party guests

Extra. I'm pretty sure she sits to the right of Lyle Tayo and to the left of Joe's
mother.

other adults

Small parts, bit parts and extras.
(1.) Nasturtium's mother, who pays Farina a quarter to look after her baby, but has to chase Joe to get it
back.
(2.) The cop that apprehends Joe, until Farina coaxes him away.
(3.) At least eleven additional women at the bridge party.
(4.) Another domestic worker besides the butler.
(5.) The mother with the big nose.
(6.) The man standing in the background holding his coat in the early scenes at the house.
(7.) The guy walking by when we first see the midget.
(8.) The guy getting his shoes shined, whose face is never shown.

the music (sort of):

I'm Lonesome I Guess That's All

Or at least that's what the lyrics say on the player piano that Joe's crying
over.

miscellaneous:

23 shooting dates went into the making of this film. Two weeks after shooting had finished for "Tired Business
Men" (no. 60), the 'start' date arrived for "Baby Brother" on Feb. 16th. Shooting continued
until the 'finish' date of Mar. 14th. No shooting took place on Feb. 20th, Feb. 27th, Mar. 6th, or Mar. 13th,
which were all Sundays. Robert A. McGowan (listed as McGowan, Jr.) is credited in the 1927 datebook with directing
on most of the shooting dates. However, his uncle, Robert F. McGowan, is credited on Feb. 18th and Mar. 5th. No director
is listed for Feb. 16th. After this, two weeks passed before the Our Gang unit began to film "Chicken Feed"
(no. 62).